Back to the Classroom with DSW

It’s that time of year…back to school! I get so excited for the start of a new year! Even though 2020 has some new challenges, this year is no different! Whether you are teaching remotely, in the classroom or with a hybrid model, I think it’s important to prepare like you usually would! For me, preparing for a fresh school year includes shopping for some new back to school pieces and most importantly SHOES. Today I am partnering with DSW to share my must have shoes for the classroom!

Outfit 1: Converse High Tops // Tee // Denim Jacket // Skirt

Outfit 2: Steve Madden Starling Sneakers // Top // Pants

Outfit 3: Slip On Vans // Dress // Denim Jacket

When it comes to the classroom, I love a good pair of sneakers! As an elementary teacher, I often find myself on the floor, running, dancing and being on my feet for majority of the day. Comfortable shoes are an absolute must, and what is more comfortable than sneakers?

DSW is truly the sneaker headquarters of 2020, with all the best brands and styles for the entire fam! They are my first stop when shopping shoes because they have a huge variety of options with teacher friendly prices. I purchased all three of my all time favorite sneakers from DSW!  These three are on constant rotation because they are comfortable and easy to dress up or down!

  1. Converse High Tops: Converse high tops are a comfortable classic (they’ve passed the true test of comfort too…a full day of Disney). I love pairing these with skirts and dresses and love that they instantly make an outfit more fun.

2. Steve Madden Starling Sneakers: I got these last school year and they quickly became a classroom favorite. The all white goes with everything, but they have a slightly distressed look, so I don’t have to worry about them getting dirty. The flatform style gives a bit of lift and they are extremely breathable and comfortable! They also come with a second pair of neon laces that add a fun pop.

3. Slip on Vans: These are so popular with my students!  A few of them have the same pair and they always ask me when I am going to wear them so we can match. The slip on style is so easy and I don’t have to worry about my laces coming untied! I love that I can pair these with a super simple outfit to bring it all together.

DSW knows how magical teachers are and are honoring the start of the school year in some big ways! First up, score 20% off in stores at DSW all month long (must be a VIP and show valid teacher ID at checkout!). Next up, nominate yourself or your favorite teacher to win $10k cash and free shoes for a year! Find out all the details here.

No matter what this school year has in store, be prepared with cute sneaks and shop my faves from DSW!

A big thanks to DSW for sponsoring this post! As always, all selections and opinions are my own.

Classroom Supplies and Organization with Walmart

Top, Short Sleeve Version// Similar Jeans // Flats

It’s my first official day of the 2019-2020 school year! While I am sad to see summer vacation go, I am so excited to get back in my classroom with a new group of sweet first graders! The task of getting ready for this day though, can be daunting. There is SO much that goes on behind the scenes before the kiddos walk in on that first day of school. From seating arrangements to putting name tags on EVERYTHING, there is a lot that goes in to creating a warm and inviting learning environment. With so much to do, there is one thing I don’t want to have to worry about when the school year starts…school supplies.

After spending WAY too much time hunting down supplies students needed during the day, I created an easy, organization system for my classroom cabinets. While it’s not very pretty, it’s extremely user-friendly, and allows me to quickly grab a pair of scissors or a dry erase marker in the middle of a lesson when a student needs it. I was able to find all the materials I needed at Walmart, along with a bunch of school supplies I needed to stock up for the year. Walmart has become my one stop shop for back to school. Not only can I find the cutest on trend items to update my teacher wardrobe, but I can also pick up the essentials for my classroom ALL within my budget because of Walmart’s Everyday Low Price guarantee.

Check out my easy organization system and supply must haves from Walmart below! Just click any product to shop!

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring today’s post!

Back to the Classroom with Walmart

I can’t believe that I will be back in the classroom in less than a month! Summer is slowly winding down, and while I am sad to see my favorite time of year come to a close, I crave the routine of the classroom. I also miss my kiddos! I love this time of year because it means back to school shopping. As a kid, I looked forward to buying new clothes for the school year all year long. It was my absolute favorite day of the year as we traveled to the big city (Seattle) and spent the day shopping. When we would get home, we stopped by my grandparents house and I gave them a fashion show of my finds, that were typically all WAY to0 warm to even wear until October.

Fast forward some years, and I still look forward to shopping for back to school, except this time as the teacher! I love finding ways to incorporate the season’s hottest trends into classroom appropriate outfits. I am always on the lookout for pieces that don’t break the bank, because let’s be real, back to school shopping for the teacher means way more than just picking up some snazzy new outfits. It also means outfitting our classroom with supplies that ensure a smooth school year.

The past few years, Walmart has become my one stop shop for back to school. Not only can I find the cutest on trend items to update my teacher wardrobe, but I can also pick up the essentials for my classroom ALL within my budget because of Walmart’s Everyday Low Price guarantee. To all my teacher friends out there, we ALL know how important it is to find low prices for a great value, #teachersalary. I want clothes that I feel good in, are flattering, on trend and affordable along with a classroom that feels prepared for the year to come and I can find all of that at Walmart!

Check out my back to school fashion finds below, along with a few different ways to style them, because a teacher needs options! I’ve also rounded up my back to school must haves for the classroom at the end of the post. See any items that you also can’t live without? Share your essentials with me in the comments!

Outfit 1: Snake Print Midi Skirt // T-shirt (comes in 2 pack – I sized up to a medium) // Denim Jacket // Backpack // Similar Booties

I am loving the snake skin print trend and LOVE the fit of this midi skirt! It’s under $20, comes in a ton of color and print options and has a super flattering fit. This is a great way to incorporate the popular animal print trend into your back to school wardrobe.  This skirt is a great length and is easy to move in. I paired it with my FAVORITE white tee and a denim jacket that’s under $20 as well. It’s made with a comfy, stretchy fabric so it’s not restricting at all…a necessity in the classroom! This backpack is a steal at under $25 and perfect for carrying the essentials to and from work. This will fit my small makeup bag, wallet and planner!

Outfit 2: Chambray Top // Black Pants // Leopard Slides // Bag

If you aren’t ready to go all in on the animal print trend, these leopard heeled slides add the perfect print pop. They have a low heel so they are easy to walk in and are comfortable enough to make it through a day on your feet. This little chambray top puts a cute spin on a classic! I love the tiered detailing and how easy this piece will be to transition from season to season. It comes in 4 color options. These black skinnys are a great work pant! They are high waisted and have a very flattering fit. They do run a bit small, I am wearing a 2.

Outfit 3: Leopard Dress // Belt // Similar Booties // Bag

If you love a good leopard print and are ready to go all in on the animal print trend, this dress is for you! This dress is a great length for the classroom. I am only 5’3 and some and would say this dress is almost too long on me, so I belted it to bring it up a bit. This dress has the cutest tunic/babydoll shape and tassel ties. It has a little shift dress liner, so you don’t need to worry about it being see through!

Check out a few more of my back to school teacher picks under $35 and a few different ways to style them below! I am also sharing an in-depth look/review of these looks on IG stories today! You can catch them here ( or @twentiesgirlstyle).

Shop my Picks

As promised, here are my back to school must haves (just click any item to shop!). These items are essential for a smooth start to the school year. From the books I read on the first day, to the the products I use to keep my classroom germ free. I love that I can shop from the comfort of my home on the Walmart site, as they have a whole page dedicated to back to school. I also just snagged some cute classroom decorations and handy storage pieces…did you know that Walmart has an entire collection of teaching and classroom supplies??? You do now! Happy shopping friends!

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring today’s post!

Classroom Style: The Perfect Back to School Dress

Floral Dress // Mules // Similar Tote

Today is the first day of school! I can’t believe this is my 4th year of teaching 1st grade! I also can’t believe that summer vacation is officially over…where does the time go? 

My goal for this year is to share more of my work looks with you. My plan is to share at least 1 look every two weeks under the title Classroom Style. 

Today’s look is my first day of school outfit. One thing I love about teaching is that I get to go back to school shopping every year. Growing up I looked forward to BTS shopping everyyyy year. I loved picking out my first day of school outfit and surprise, surprise, still do! I love stocking up on easy dresses for this time of year, when it’s still too hot to wear pants. The moment I saw this one, I knew it would be the perfect 1st day dress. I love the floral print, flowy sleeves and ruffle hem! 

I bought these mules during the Nordstrom Sale after I wore my first pair to work all spring! These are the BEST shoes for the classroom as they are so comfortable and go with everything! I’m still undecided if I will wear these today or opt for a pair of espadrille sandals…there isn’t much time left to wear sandals!

Get the Look